Fillmore council approves Liberty abatements

FILLMORE -- A major employment draw outside the Greencastle city limits, Liberty Industries in Fillmore is looking toward continued growth.

Kristin Clary of the Greencastle/Putnam County Development Center presented a resolution for new tax abatements for the trailer manufacturer to the Fillmore Town Council Thursday evening. These applied to a projected $1.67 million expansion.

Addressing the council in a public hearing, Clary said Liberty was requesting two 10-year abatements to continue expanding its facility and acquire new manufacturing equipment.

The breakdown of the project is for Liberty to invest $951,000 in new manufacturing equipment (designated as “personal property”) and $719,000 in new buildings (designated as “real estate”).

The resolution was based on reaffirming Liberty Industries as an economic revitalization area (ERA) and that an abatement into 2022 was provided originally. Both of these were approved by the council in March and April, respectively.

The project, which effectively got under way in March with Liberty’s ERA designation, includes the construction of:

• A 8,960 square-foot steel warehouse for inventory;

• A 6,000 square-foot wash and blast bay;

• A 13,600 square-foot storage shell; and

• A 2,400 square-foot extension to an existing wash and blast bay.

Clary’s general description of the project also notes that the company is looking to add equipment to its assembly line and a new paint line.

The company did not seek a tax abatement for purchases of any special tooling.

For both the personal and real property investments, Liberty’s tax reductions will reduce annually by five percent for the first five years and 10 percent through Year 9. After paying five percent in Year 10, the abatement would cease.

The construction is expected to be complete by next March.

With no audience present to offer comments, the public hearing was closed. The council then approved the resolution granting the tax abatements for Liberty’s real and personal property.

During the council’s October meeting, Clary said that Liberty Industries had 40 full-time employees, 10 more than what the company stated in December 2019. She added that its trailer sales were “out the roof.”

In other business:

• Utilities Operator Joe Cash told the council he had recently repaired a fire hydrant on Putnam Street.

Town Attorney Jeff Boggess and Town Marshal Darrel Bunten were not in attendance.

The next regular meeting of the Fillmore Town Council is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 3 at 7 p.m. in the Fillmore Town Hall.